NDRG1

What is NDRG1 protein?

NDRG1 (N-myc downstream regulated 1) gene is a protein coding gene which situated on the long arm of chromosome 8 at locus 8q24. NDRG1 is one of 4 members of the NDRG α/β-hydrolase family. This protein is classified in databases as a tumor suppressor and heavy metal-response protein. The NDRG1 protein is consisted of 394 amino acids and its molecular mass is approximately 42.8 kDa.

What is the function of NDRG1 protein?

Its functions include cell-cycle regulation, cellular differentiation, apoptosis, hypoxia response and metal-ion sensing. NDRG1 acts as a tumor suppressor in many cell types. It has a role in cell trafficking, notably of the Schwann cell, and is necessary for the maintenance and development of the peripheral nerve myelin sheath. NDRG1 protects cells from spindle disruption damage and plays a role in p53/TP53-dependent mitotic spindle checkpoint.

NDRG1 Related Signaling Pathway

NDRG1 is involved in many signaling pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, AKT/mTOR pathway, etc. It was found that NDRG1 can inhibit the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by regulating the nuclear transport of β-catenin. At the same time, the high expression of NDRG1 can inhibit cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and inhibit the occurrence of tumors by enhancing the function of p53.

NDRG1 Related Diseases

Mutation in the NDRG1 gene has been reported to be causative for hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy-Lom (HMSNL), a severe autosomal recessive form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. On the other hand, NDRG1 plays important roles in the primary growth of malignant tumors, as well as in invasion and metastasis. So it may be a poor prognostic indicator in women with ovarian cancer. Another study concluded that increased NDRG1 protein expression was associated with increased metastasis of the tumor to the axillary lymph node.

Fig1. NDRG1 is highly expressed in pulmonary vessels of patients with Hypoxia-induced PH (HPH) and HPH model rats. (Chengwei Li, 2023)

Bioapplications of NDRG1

NDRG1 protein is closely related to the occurrence and development of cancer, so it can be used as a tumor marker to evaluate the survival rate and treatment response of tumor patients, and then it can be used as a drug target for tumor therapy.

Case Study 1: Aolin Du, 2018

Fig1. ATF3 was located in cytoplasm and nuclear in both A549 and 1299 cells, while NDRG1 was located in cytoplasm and nuclear in 1299 cells, and mainly in cytoplasm with weak expression in nuclear in A549 cells.

Case Study 2: Sarah Croessmann, 2015

Fig2. RPPA expression levels were confirmed with Western blot analysis using antibodies against pNDRG1 and total NDRG1 in 0.2 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL EGF conditions.

NDRG1 has several biochemical functions, for example, Rab GTPase binding,cadherin binding,gamma-tubulin binding. Some of the functions are cooperated with other proteins, some of the functions could acted by NDRG1 itself. We selected most functions NDRG1 had, and list some proteins which have the same functions with NDRG1. You can find most of the proteins on our site.

NDRG1 has direct interactions with proteins and molecules. Those interactions were detected by several methods such as yeast two hybrid, co-IP, pull-down and so on. We selected proteins and molecules interacted with NDRG1 here. Most of them are supplied by our site. Hope this information will be useful for your research of NDRG1.

ACSL3;LDHA;RPN2;ATP1A1;HSP90AA1;MME;HSPA5;PABPC1;SLC25A6;XRCC6;EEF2;PKM;DARS;DDX5;PSMC3;NCL;MAOA;RPS3;TARS